As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
The empty vessel makes the loudest sound.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People who have little knowledge often make the most noise.
This quote by Shakespeare suggests that those who are the least informed or knowledgeable often speak the loudest, drawing attention to themselves. It serves as a reminder to listen closely, as those who are truly wise may be more reflective and less prone to boastfulness.
Themes
KnowledgeWisdomHumilitySpeechNoise
In practice
Example use cases
During a debate, a participant used this quote to highlight the importance of informed opinions.
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Give it an understanding, but no tongue.
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